Results 7,401-7,420 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Civil Defence Training (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 65 together. On behalf of the government I want to acknowledge the excellent work undertaken by Civil Defence during Storm Emma and the recent heavy snowfall. Over 350 Civil Defence volunteers, using the range of assets available, provided support to the Principal Response Agencies during the course of the Storm and its aftermath.  Actions...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Permanent Structured Co-operation (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy is aware PESCO is a mechanism provided for in the Treaty of the European Union to enable participating member States to come together and, on a project by project basis, jointly develop military crisis management capabilities for use in support of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations and missions in support of international peace and security. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The White Paper on Defence (2015) provides for a Permanent Defence Force (PDF) strength of 9,500 personnel and the Government is committed to ensuring that the PDF reaches this strength level. In this context, the Government has ensured that there is sufficient funding in place to provide for a full strength of 9,500 PDF personnel. The PDF has a higher turnover level than other elements...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Given the unique and demanding nature of military life, there is understandably a relatively high level of turnover among Defence Forces personnel. This is not new and the Defence Forces have always had a level of turnover that far exceeds other areas of the public service. In order to balance personnel turnover there is ongoing recruitment at both enlisted and officer level. 751...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Barracks (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy is aware, since the closure of Columb Barracks in 2012, my Department has explored a number of avenues to try and secure its long term future for the benefit of the local community. Government Departments and other Public Bodies, including Westmeath County Council, have been invited to declare an interest in acquiring the property. However no interest has been expressed from...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Funding (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Government approved arrangements in July 2011, whereby Enterprise Ireland would support the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces capability development through engagement with Irish-based enterprise and research institutes on the use and application of innovative civilian technologies in the military sphere. The White Paper on Defence reinforces this arrangement stating the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Permanent Structured Co-operation (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 156 together. While PESCO does not provide for direct funding to Member States or to companies established in Member States, some capability development projects developed under PESCO may be eligible for funding from the European Defence Fund, in particular from the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP). The text of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: In early September, 2017 the Government established an emergency humanitarian support scheme to assist small businesses and community, sporting and voluntary bodies in County Donegal which through no fault of their own were unable to secure flood insurance and were flooded following the exceptionally heavy rainfall of August 22 and 23.  A similar scheme was successfully operated...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Government is committed to maintaining a strength level of 9,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force (PDF). This comprises 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service personnel, as stated in the 2015 White Paper on Defence. I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 31 January 2018, was 9,138 (Whole Time Equivalent)....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Training (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 162 together. The primary function of training and education in the Defence Forces is to develop and maintain the capabilities necessary to enable it to fulfil the roles laid down by Government. The Defence Forces conduct training and education under four broad categories namely; Leadership, skills, career and collective training. Leadership...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel Data (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The number of female personnel (Whole Time Equivalent) serving at all ranks in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service over the last five years is set out in the table below, together with the current strength as of 31 January 2018: 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Army 450 464 458 476 496 482 Air Corps 31 35 33 33 34 35 Naval Service 65 64 61 59 70 70 Total 546 563 552 568 600 587 The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Budgets (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The total gross budget allocation for the Defence and Army Pensions Votes in 2018 is over €946 million. This allocation provides for the pay and allowances of members of the Defence Forces as well as Civil Servants and Civilian Employees of the Department, ongoing Defence Forces standing and operational costs and also facilitates investment in essential equipment and infrastructure....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together. My priority as Minister with Responsibility for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. At National level, representation on the Government Task Force...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Search and Rescue Service Provision (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Defence Organisation provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary security role while it also undertakes a diverse range of non-security-related tasks. With reference to Search and Rescue, since 2004 the Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of Search and Rescue services within the Irish Search and Rescue region. Both the Naval Service...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As of 1 March 2018, Ireland is contributing 586 personnel to 9 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 377 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 135 personnel. Other missions in which Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The White Paper on Defence provides for a combined establishment of 4,169 personnel for the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve (inclusive of the proposal to increase the Naval Service Reserve establishment from 200 to 300 personnel). I am aware of the shortfall between this figure and the current combined strength of the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve which, as of 31...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Staff Data (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Since becoming Minister for Defence, I have made no non-civil service appointments to my Department. Two Special Advisers were recruited directly and are classed as unestablished Civil Servants.  The provisions of Paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2 of the code of Conduct for Civil Servants concerning restrictions on political activity, do not apply to holders of such roles. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Banking (20 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: My Department operates a small number of bank accounts, in order to process payments for goods and services, for processing payrolls and for the receipt of funds due to the Department. In accordance with public financial procedures, the amounts maintained in these accounts are kept to a minimum. During 2017, the cost of negative interest rates in respect of these bank accounts was...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (20 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The total expenditure on public awareness campaigns and online advertising from January 2017 to date in 2018 by my Department is set out in the table. The expenditure relates to the Be Winter Ready campaign which was launched on 8 November 2017. There was no expenditure in relation to third party public relations advice or communications advice during the period in question. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff Data (20 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: It is the policy of my Department that all new civil service staff are recruited through the Public Appointments Service and I can confirm this policy has been fully adhered in the period since my appointment as Minister.   As provided for in relation to the employment of special advisers, both my special advisers were recruited directly rather than through the...